Employment opportunities in horticulture
The horticultural industry offers a variety of jobs, both directly and indirectly. Many jobs require knowledge and training in horticulture. The level of training could be vocational or at the college level. The nature of work may be indoor or outdoor. Intense manual labour or paperwork in office may be involved. The following are the identified categories of jobs that require varying degrees of familiarity with horticulture:
Nursery operation
(a) Nursery manager (coordinates the entire nursery operations)
(b) Propagator (develops quality planting material)
(c) Field supervisor (supervises and plans fieldwork)
(d) Plant technician (advises and provides guidance on plant care)
(e) Salesperson (works on the promotion and sale of plant material)
Turf grass operation
(a) Landscape technician (establishes and maintains landscape)
(b) Golf course architect (designs a golf course)
(c) Golf course superintendent (supervises the construction and maintenance of the golf course)
Crop production
(a) Farm manager (manages the horticulture farm)
(b) Crop grower (produces vegetables, fruits and flowers)
Florist operation
(a) Floral designer (creatively arranges flowers)
(b) Store manager (manages and supervises the store of the farm)
(c) Plant rental supervisor (manages plants and pots, and does floral arrangements on rent)
Education
(a) Teacher/trainer (teaches horticulture in formal or informal system)
(b) Researcher (conducts research to develop new products and varieties)
(c) Extension person (disperses innovative techniques and methods among people) Industrial operation The horticultural industry has spawned a number of supporting or service industries, including the following:
Developer or producer Agro-chemicals
The horticulture industry depends on a variety of chemicals, including fertilisers, pesticides and growth hormones. These chemicals are called agro-chemicals. Farm machinery Machinery, tools and implements are required for preparing the land, planting, cultivation, spray, harvest, store and packaging. Engineers design and construct the tools and machinery required for extensive and intensive production of horticultural plants. Home garden versions of some of these machineries and equipment are also available.
Distributors
Horticultural products need to be transported from the areas of production to nearby and distant markets, and ultimately, to consumers. Because of their highly perishable nature and in order to retain their quality for a long duration, horticultural products require special care and handling in transportation. It requires special personnel to look after this aspect.
The horticultural industry offers a variety of jobs, both directly and indirectly. Many jobs require knowledge and training in horticulture. The level of training could be vocational or at the college level. The nature of work may be indoor or outdoor. Intense manual labour or paperwork in office may be involved. The following are the identified categories of jobs that require varying degrees of familiarity with horticulture:
Nursery operation
(a) Nursery manager (coordinates the entire nursery operations)
(b) Propagator (develops quality planting material)
(c) Field supervisor (supervises and plans fieldwork)
(d) Plant technician (advises and provides guidance on plant care)
(e) Salesperson (works on the promotion and sale of plant material)
Turf grass operation
(a) Landscape technician (establishes and maintains landscape)
(b) Golf course architect (designs a golf course)
(c) Golf course superintendent (supervises the construction and maintenance of the golf course)
Crop production
(a) Farm manager (manages the horticulture farm)
(b) Crop grower (produces vegetables, fruits and flowers)
Florist operation
(a) Floral designer (creatively arranges flowers)
(b) Store manager (manages and supervises the store of the farm)
(c) Plant rental supervisor (manages plants and pots, and does floral arrangements on rent)
Education
(a) Teacher/trainer (teaches horticulture in formal or informal system)
(b) Researcher (conducts research to develop new products and varieties)
(c) Extension person (disperses innovative techniques and methods among people) Industrial operation The horticultural industry has spawned a number of supporting or service industries, including the following:
Developer or producer Agro-chemicals
The horticulture industry depends on a variety of chemicals, including fertilisers, pesticides and growth hormones. These chemicals are called agro-chemicals. Farm machinery Machinery, tools and implements are required for preparing the land, planting, cultivation, spray, harvest, store and packaging. Engineers design and construct the tools and machinery required for extensive and intensive production of horticultural plants. Home garden versions of some of these machineries and equipment are also available.
Distributors
Horticultural products need to be transported from the areas of production to nearby and distant markets, and ultimately, to consumers. Because of their highly perishable nature and in order to retain their quality for a long duration, horticultural products require special care and handling in transportation. It requires special personnel to look after this aspect.
